Taxidermy mannikin mold with recesses for supporting artificial eyes

Abstract

Disclosed is a taxidermy mannikin mold and molding method for making a mannikin which has eyes insert-molded therein in proper position and rotational orientation and which has proper eye-surrounding anatomical surface features. The mold cavity has therein eye socket recesses each of which is immediately surrounded by a correctly contoured surface having reference indicia marking.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mold for forming a taxidermy animal head mannikin with artificial eyes molded therein in proper position, comprising: a pair of mold cavity half parts, each of the half parts having:   a cavity surface contoured for correct anatomical formation of features of half of the mannikin including the features immediately surrounding the eye;   a semi-spherical eye socket recess in the cavity surface shaped for snugly receiving the front portion of an artificial eye and leaving the rear portion projecting into the mold cavity with the surface of the mold cavity having correctly contoured anatomical features right up to the edge of the eye socket recess; and   reference indicia in the cavity surface near the edge of the eye socket recess comprising at least two indicia markings on opposite sides of the eye socket recess, whereby an artificial eye may be inserted in the eye socket recess and correctly positioned by aligning the pupil of the eye with the indicia markings prior to introducing liquid foamable hardenable material into the cavity between the mold half parts.   
     
     
       2. The mold of claim 1 wherein said indicia markings comprise a plurality of marks equidistantly spaced about the edge of said recess. 
     
     
       3. The mold of claim 2 wherein the indicia markings comprise four raised ridges spaced equally about each eye socket recess, whereby an artificial eye with an elongated pupil may be inserted in the eye socket recess and correctly positioned by aligning the long axis of the pupil with two of the indicia ridges which are on opposite sides of the eye socket recess and aligning the short axis of the pupil with the other two indicia ridges prior to introducing liquid foamable hardenable material into the cavity between the mold half parts.